Tag Archives: DC Deals

June 4, 2012 · 8:12 am

Get Summer Started with These Local Deals

Here’s a heads-up on some great deals going on right now. And don’t forget you can find links to even more on the Deals page. Happy Savings!

Certifikid always has all kinds of fabulous deals for families, but their current offer for a Season Pass to Sesame Place is particularly great.

LivingSocial Families has passes for the City of Gathersburg Water Park ($6 for two!), which are guaranteed to go fast. And be sure to scroll down to find discounts on everything from soccer and tennis camps to art classes as well.

Goldstar has great discounts on tickets to all kinds of summer fun for families, from baseball games to children’s plays. A few goodies: Nats vs. Rockies, Goldilocks! at The Puppet Co., and a game day ferry ride to Nationals Park.

If what you really want to do is get un-local this summer, then check out Groupon Getaways. They currently have offers on stays all over the globe.

Stock up on summer clothes and gear AND get cash back when you shop through Ebates. It’s so easy – when you buy online, just access the store via the Ebates website — they partner with just about everyone — and you can get anywhere from 3-10% back (sometimes even more!) on purchases.

The Newseum Via the NOW Pass

The Newseum's state-of-the-art space

I finally made it to the Newseum. And I have NOW Pass DC to thank for it. The museum dedicated to all things news and journalism has been high on my list of must-sees for years, but it was one of those places that, until very recently, I just hadn’t yet gotten to.

So, when the folks from NOW Pass DC approached me about partnering with them, I jumped at the opportunity. The company offers great values for some of our city’s best attractions with the NOW Pass, a single card that grants access to the Newseum, the International Spy Museum, and a double decker bus tour of the city for much less than it would cost to do all of those things individually as well as discounts at restaurants, shops, and other DC businesses. And while it’s targeted to people visiting the city, it’s also a great deal for locals interested in those attractions, too, especially since you have a year to use it (though you can only use the pass once at each venue).

Viewing the Berlin Wall

When I learned about all of this I knew my first NOW Pass foray would be to the Newseum. We made it a family venture, as I wanted to see see how kid-friendly it would be. I’ll be frank: There are some exhibits that are way over kids’ heads (especially a 2.5 and 5-year-old’s), but there are several that they will enjoy and may, in fact, prompt a great learning experience with some preparation and discussion from parents. For kids I recommend these exhibits: Pictures of the Year; the Berlin Wall Gallery; First Dogs; the 4-D Theater (for older kids); Sports Theater; The Funny Pages; The President’s Photographer; Internet, TV, & Radio Gallery; Be a TV Reporter; and a ride on the hydraulic elevator to the top level where you can go out on the Pennsylvania Avenue Terrace for great views of the city.

Front page news

For adults, I recommend it all. In a nutshell, it is an incredible museum. I actually spent two days there, one with the whole family and one on my own, so I could take my time viewing the exhibits that I couldn’t see with the kids. A Newseum ticket grants you two consecutive days to the museum, so it worked out well, though I plan to go back because I want to spend even more time taking it all in.

I’m off to a great start with my NOW Pass. Next up, an open-top bus tour of the city!